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Though it should have happened sooner, Connecticut Attorney General George Jepsen took the right step in putting a receiver at the helm of the Amistad, the schooner that is the state's official tall ship and was built with state money, but is in private hands. Mr. Jepsen sought a court order, which was approved, naming New Haven attorney Katharine B. Sacks as the receiver in charge of Amistad America Inc., the nonprofit that has controlled the replica slave ship that was launched 14 years ago. The venture has been foundering for years; this is a ship that belongs in receivership.

NEW HAVEN - One by one, the leading contenders have fallen and the lesser lights have advanced. As the Connecticut Open moves into the semifinals, one seeded player remains. Petra Kvitova, the 2012 New Haven champion and a 2013 finalist, advanced with a win Thursday and stands alone in a depleted field. Kvitova, the second seed, won her quarterfinal match against Barbora Zahlavova Strycova (6-4, 6-1), continuing her run amid a week of upsets. Top seed and defending champion Simona Halep lost Tuesday, four-time champion and No. 4 seed Caroline Wozniacki was ousted Wednesday afternoon, just hours before third-seed Genie Bouchard was eliminated.

NEW BRITAIN — As back-to-school week draws closer, Gov. Dannel P. Malloy visited this city Thursday to declare that extra funding for Connecticut's most troubled school districts will amount to about $132.9 million this year. The school systems of 30 financially distressed communities are getting a share of the money to target specific goals in their plans to improve teaching and student performance. "With this additional funding, districts are doing everything from focusing on early literacy to adding full-day kindergarten," Malloy said.

A Manchester man was among six people arrested Wednesday on child pornography charges, state police said Thursday. James Kyle Bidwell, 20, of 54 Union Place, was charged with possession of child pornography and promoting a minor in an obscene performance. Bidwell posted bail of $150,000 and is to appear in Manchester Superior Court on Sept. 12, police said. Police rounded up Bidwell and five other men after "lengthy, complex investigations," according to a news release. All of the charges relate to computer activities, state police spokeswoman Master Sgt. Donna Tadiello said.

NEW HAVEN — The bigger the stage, the better Genie Bouchard performs. Put her on a court at the Australian Open, French Open or Wimbledon and Bouchard shines. She was a finalist at the All England Club two months ago after reaching the semifinals at the two earlier Grand Slam events. But as her star has soared under the bright lights, Bouchard has been a bit player everywhere else. And that includes Connecticut. Bouchard, the No. 8 player in the world, left the Connecticut Open quietly Wednesday night, falling to veteran Samantha Stosur in straight sets (6-2, 6-2)

NEW HAVEN - On Monday, Caroline Wozniacki said she felt like she was in great shape. She's training to run in the Nov. 2 New York City Marathon and her fitness is the best it's ever been on the tennis court. But even top marathoners get tired. And Wozniacki, who said she hasn't had a day off since she arrived in Montreal a little over two weeks ago, looked sluggish and spent on Stadium Court Wednesday afternoon against Camila Giorgi of Italy. Giorgi, ranked 38th in the world, sent fourth-seeded Wozniacki to her earliest defeat in New Haven at the Connecticut Open, beating her 6-4, 6-2 in a second-round match.

The state's sixth Apple store will open in South Windsor on Saturday. It is Apple Inc.'s sixth retail shop in Connecticut. The other five are in Danbury, Greenwich, New Haven, Stamford and West Hartford. The store, at 501 Evergreen Walk, will be open Monday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., and Sunday 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Besides selling Apple's products, the store will offer technical support and free scheduled workshops about Apple computers, other electronics and services.

Visit courant.com/ctopen819 for more photos. NEW HAVEN - It is a perennial exercise among tennis observers envisioning life after Serena. Just who will step up and seize the mantle as the next great American tennis player? Serena Williams remains elite, her sister Venus is aging, and the tennis world is waiting for someone - anyone - to take the next step. So as Pittsburgh-bred Alison Riske advanced to the Connecticut Open quarterfinals with a 6-1, 7-6 (3) upset victory over Flavia Pennetta Tuesday, the plotline was predictable.

The State Bond Commission has signed off on a $1.77 million loan to C. Cowles & Co. to relocate five of its divisions from New Haven, and another in Massachusetts, to the former Marlin Firearms factory in North Haven. As much as $885,125 of the loan can be forgiven if the company meets certain standards for creating and retaining jobs. The agreement was signed in October 2014, but funding for the project was just approved by the Bond Commission at its monthly meeting in July and announced by Gov. Dannel P. Malloy on Tuesday.

NEW HAVEN — A 61-year-old man was fatally shot in the back in his home early Sunday the day after his birthday by a stray bullet while he was sitting at his computer, police said. At 1:54 a.m. police received several 911 calls reporting gunshots in the area of Valley and Strong streets. Minutes later, police received a 911 call from a nearby resident saying her husband had been shot in the back.The victim was identified as Darryl McNair, whose 61st birthday was the day before. Police said mcNair was taken to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead.